News release
Twice as many seat belt violators and distracted cell phone users: The September Distracted Driver/Occupant Restraint Campaigns show a bad trend
October 8, 2026
-
British Columbia, British Columbia
From: BC Highway Patrol
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It’s not just your imagination: Drivers are using their cell phones more than ever, and it’s a troubling result echoed by users who are also ignoring their seatbelts.
“It’s easy to blame the driver next to you for their bad and unsafe decisions, but maybe it’s time to start looking in the mirror,” says Superintendent Lori Orstad with BC Highway Patrol. “The numbers are way too high. We should be making better decisions behind the wheel or even as passengers.”
Here’s a comparison of the 2026 Distracted Driver Campaign (for the month of September) and the 2025 campaign:
|
Region |
2025 Enforcement |
2026 Enforcement |
|
Northern BC (including most communities north of 100 Mile House) |
45 |
160 |
|
Central BC (including Merritt, Kelowna, Kamloops, Clearwater) |
285 |
483 |
|
Kootenay region (including Revelstoke, Nelson, Cranbrook, Golden) |
116 |
149 |
|
Vancouver Island |
76 |
214 |
|
South Coast (including Metro Vancouver, Sea to Sky country, the Fraser Valley) |
212 |
581 |
|
Total enforcement** |
734 |
1,587 |
The numbers are also up for the Occupant Restraint Campaign compared to 2025:
|
Region |
2025 Enforcement |
2026 Enforcement |
|
Northern BC (including most communities north of 100 Mile House) |
71 |
147 |
|
Central BC (including Merritt, Kelowna, Kamloops, Clearwater) |
162 |
263 |
|
Kootenay region (including Revelstoke, Nelson, Cranbrook, Golden) |
58 |
83 |
|
Vancouver Island |
79 |
148 |
|
South Coast (including Metro Vancouver, Sea to Sky country, the Fraser Valley) |
86 |
178 |
|
Special Traffic Operations (throughout BC) |
N/A |
7 |
|
Total enforcement** |
456 |
826 |
Staffing levels, good weather, and a lower number of serious fatalities (being investigated by BC Highway Patrol) in September 2026 may have played a role in the higher numbers, but driver behaviour is likely the most important factor.
“There’s never a better time than right now to build better habits,” says Superintendent Orstad. “Don’t start your car until you and every passenger are belted in. And put your phone out of reach before you hit the ignition. You can live without texting or using a GPS to get home from work.”
**Enforcement includes all written feedback including warnings and tickets. Warnings make up approximately 3% of the total.
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Contacts
Media Relations Officer
BC Highway Patrol
bchp_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
778-290-5844